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New York, August 31, 2017 – NMG Consulting Inc announced today that it has acquired Brightwork Partners LLC, a research-based consultancy focusing on institutional financial services, to expand its range of North American offerings. The Brightwork Partners team, led by Founder and Principal Merl Baker, will become a part of NMG Consulting and contribute to […]

NMG has acquired a strategic minority stake in Belgian data science consultancy Boobook, effective 1 July 2017. Boobook will continue to operate as an independent entity under its Founder and Managing Director, Nicole Huyghe, but will now benefit from NMG’s global network and infrastructure to support its growth. Founded in 2002, Boobook has a […]

In its latest Trialogue article, consulting firm Tria said financial advice has been “causing headaches” as the industry seeks to fix problems of the past and innovate for the future. Tria said there is a macro trend of reducing adviser numbers. Despite this, there has been a constant increase in the hiring of financial advisers […]

NMG Group recently hosted an event at the Colombo Swimming Club for its clients in celebration of its 25th anniversary in the island. NMG, Partner, Mathew Maguire remarked, “Recent changes in the regulatory landscape have resulted in companies having to think more strategically about their underlying business, and the risk based perspective.” He further pointed […]

These two charts from research firm Tria Investment Partners show the pace at which Australia’s $2.1 trillion superannuation sector is maturing. Net inflows into both self-managed super funds and large pooled funds (measured by those with assets of more than $1 billion) are falling, primarily as more superannuants are retiring and withdrawing their savings. Much […]

Matthew Maguire, Partner Two of NMG Consulting said that recent changes in the Sri Lankan regulatory landscape have resulted in companies having to think more strategically about their underlying business, and the consequences from a risk based perspective. Speaking at the NMG Consulting networking reception for its clients at the Colombo Swimming Club to celebrate […]

On Wednesday the 5th of April, NMG Consulting held a private drinks reception for its clients at the Sundowner room, at the Colombo Swimming Club to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Two of NMG’s Partners, Matthew Maguire and Roshan Perera, hosted the event with leading members of the Sri Lankan insurance industry, including Managing Directors and […]

Which P&C insurance providers have earned the favor of U.S. risk managers? National Underwriter’s Risk Manager Choice Awards is a national survey conducted by Flaspöhler, part of NMG Consulting. It recognizes the “top” Property & Casualty carriers named by risk professionals in their efforts to mitigate exposures. Chubb takes top honors this year as the […]

The retail funds industry has traditionally focused on clients aged 45 and over but this will need to change as baby boomers draw down on their wealth, which could potentially pose a threat to industry funds, according to Tria Investment Partners. The firm’s partner, Oliver Hesketh said in a post that while industry funds traditionally […]

Industry super funds are gaining ground in the pension sector after a long period of lagging behind their retail competitors. New research from Tria Investment Partners shows that in 2014 industry funds accounted for 9 per pent of funds in pension mode. But by 2016 this had increased to 13 per cent. Pension funds are […]

The SFR has the metrics that matter for Australia’s superannuation market. This comprehensive analysis covers all funds and entities with $1bn+ of super AUM and provides a single view of the total market and all major competitors and their suppliers across the retail and not-for-profit sectors. It focuses on key business metrics such as market […]

March 2017 | By Jane Craig, Partner, Insights The Independent Governance Committees (IGCs) of UK DC pension providers, responsible for representing the interests of scheme members, have been set quite a task by the UK regulator in assessing how well their providers are delivering ‘Value for Money’ (VfM) for members. Quite rightly, they have placed importance […]

Consumers do not consider fees and charges as a vital component of value for money in pensions, according to a survey of 15,000 pension scheme members. The study, which sought consumer views on the meaning of “value for money”, found they were much more concerned with issues such as “good returns” and the security of their savings. […]

Good returns are the primary concern for pension scheme members when assessing value for money, according to research conducted by 11 independent governance committees, with charges sitting outside the top 10 of saver concerns. The study also identified low levels of engagement with pensions and member confusion around the difference between defined benefit and defined […]

Press launch held Thursday, 2 March, 2017 (London). Last autumn a group of 11 Independent Governance Committees (IGCs), with the support of their respective UK workplace pension providers, jointly embarked on an extensive programme of member research, co-ordinated by law firm Sackers, to develop a common understanding of what members see as important when assessing […]

The introduction of Comprehensive Income Products for Retirement could help industry funds retain members who would have otherwise gone to retail funds, says Tria Investment Partners. The Australian Government’s backing of the Financial System Inquiry recommendation that superannuation funds provide Comprehensive Income Products for Retirement (CIPRs) could be a “strategic leg-up for industry funds, says Tria […]

Investec Asset Management recently commissioned NMG Consulting to conduct a study of umbrella fund default options and their investment performance. Read the complete findings here, however the five key highlights of the study include: The decision to move to an umbrella fund is an easy one for smaller retirement funds. Companies are able to reduce […]

An asset manager segmentation framework to explain competitive dynamics Part of NMG’s Leading Global Asset Manager Brands Insights Report. Download the full report here. We have noted that few international asset manager brands are recognised across geographies and products. We also observe differences amongst local managers: some are large institutions with distribution advantage while others are […]

Launching this week, the 2017 National Underwriter/PIA Independent Agent Survey will provide unprecedented insight into agents’ needs. Independent agents of America, start watching your inbox. National Underwriter Property & Casualty, in partnership with the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) and Flaspöhler, part of NMG Consulting, will conduct the 2017 National Underwriter/PIA Independent Agent Survey, […]

It is unlikely that a “mythical new entrant” will disrupt the Australian superannuation industry, argues an industry consultant. Despite a spate of “doomsday predictions” about the disruption of Australian superannuation, the structural realities of default superannuation make it difficult to imagine the emergence of a ‘GoogleSuper’, says Tria Investment Partners. In the latest ‘Trialogue’ article, […]

Independent Governance Committees (IGCs) have joined forces to better understand what value for money means for scheme members. Co-ordinated by Sackers, the project involves 11 IGCs, with the support of their providers, undertaking research with members to build an understanding of what they value and why. The programme is designed to inform IGCs when assessing […]

The government should consider a more streamlined approach to regulatory change – as well as deregulation – to bring down industry costs, says Tria Investment Partners. In its latest Trialogue article, superannuation consulting firm Tria Investment Partners said it estimates that several regulatory initiatives will cost the industry $2.93 billion to implement. The research was conducted […]

The financial services industry will spend a total of almost $3 billion to implement eight regulatory change proposals, according to Tria Investment Partners. As part of research it undertook for the Financial Services Council (FSC), Tria arrived at this figure after calculating costs to implement reforms in the advice industry such as the Future of […]

The cost of reform, review and re-review over the last five years into financial services, the largest sector in the Australian economy, is a staggering $2.75 billion. Persistent political change has contributed to this cost of reform. Over the same five-year period during the terms of both Labor and Coalition governments, financial services has experienced […]

NMG Consulting congratulates Standard Life Investments on their recent award for Best Thought Leadership Work at the Investment Marketing and Innovation Awards, sponsored by Investment Week. This award was based on the recent European Insurance, Unprecedented Pressure and Change 2015 survey and report. Download your copy of this award-winning report here.

Jacky Mathekga will lead NMG Benefits from 1 June, 2016. NMG Benefits today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Jacky Mathekga as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 June, 2016. Mathekga previously held the role of Executive Director – Strategy, managing key client relationships, partnerships and business development. NMG Benefits provides professional […]

The 44 per cent growth in the Australian ETF market between 2013 and 2015 was fuelled primarily by advised SMSFs and retail investors, according to Vanguard and Tria Investment Partners. New research by Vanguard and Tria Investment Partners, based on share registry data, has identified advised investors as the driving force behind the rapid growth […]

Last week’s federal budget measure outlining a $1.6 million lifetime cap on pension balances could prompt not-for-profit funds to shift to a ‘full service’ model, says Tria Investment Partners. In a Trialogue note on the impact of the proposed changes to superannuation in the 3 May federal budget, Tria Investment Partners said the introduction of a $1.6 […]

Matthew Maguire, Partner of NMG’s Actuarial Consulting business and President of the Singapore Actuarial Society, was part of the expert panel at the AXA and Grab launch of usage-based insurance for private-hire car drivers. SINGAPORE — GrabCar drivers will now be able to pay for their commercial motor insurance according to the mileage on paid trips […]

The continental European reinsurers are trying to explore new areas of business in the life insurance and sickness, given the continuous developments and the difficult market conditions. Prospects for modest growth for traditional reinsurance While globally the reinsurance growth rate has slowed down significantly, at a European level, the volume of premiums ceded shows a […]

National Underwriter’s Risk Manager Choice Awards is a national survey conducted by Flaspöhler: Part of NMG Consulting. It recognizes the “top” Property & Casualty carriers named by risk professionals in their ongoing effort to mitigate exposures. The insurers listed represent the first choices of those who must ensure that all their insurance needs are met. […]

Matt Munro, Chief Executive Officer of iGO4 (part of the NMG Group), talks telematics, aggregator sites and the importance of brokers utilising data to add value for insurers. How did you get started in insurance? I fell into insurance. I got a job at Endsleigh and, like most people, thought I’d do this for a […]

NMG Consulting congratulates Matthew Maguire, Partner, Actuarial Consulting on his recent appointment as President of the Singapore Actuarial Society (SAS). Matthew works with non-life insurers, reinsurers and regulators across both statutory and strategic projects, including market entry, product and channel development and portfolio analysis and re-structuring. We wish Matthew the very best in his newly […]

Independent research commissioned by the CII has identified that customers want greater empathy, clarity and consistency from providers when accessing their pensions under the new freedoms. The research, carried out at the end of last year, highlighted what challenges need to be addressed if the sector is to establish consumer trust and confidence. It shows […]